Future of lifestyle blocks key area of concern

Terrace Station, near Hororata, was once the home of New Zealand Premier Sir John Hall, who successfully campaigned in parliament for women's suffrage. Photo: Heritage New Zealand

The future of lifestyle blocks in the Waimakariri district is under debate.

Rural subdivisions and the future of primary production in rural areas were the most pressing concerns presented in the Waimakariri District Council's district development strategy (DDS) hearings last week, Mayor David Ayers said.

The DDS is expected to be completed by the end of the year and would feed into the council's District Plan review and the Long Term Plan, which were due to be completed next year.

David Ayers.

"We heard about other things too, but that [rural subdivisions] came through strongly. I think there is a fair bit of concern about small blocks spreading across the plains and how this might impact on the future of farming in the district," Mr Ayers said.

"There was a variety of suggestions put forward for meeting a desire for rural living, including some quite innovative ideas.

"We also heard from small block holders who are using their land highly productively, raising stock intensively or horticultural-type activities - so it's a complicated story."

Mr Ayers said farm sizes have varied throughout Canterbury's history, from the big rural runs of early settlement which were later broken up into small family farms, before gradually becoming bigger.

In recent years there has been the contrast between the growing number of lifestyle blocks and small holdings and the large scale farms like dairying, so landuse options and sizes could change in the future and climate change could also have an impact, he said.

One option was making lifestyle blocks smaller, Mr Ayers said.

The present definition for rural residential was that small blocks should be at least 4ha, which was based on an Environment Canterbury measure to address the demand for rural living in the Selwyn district.

"Four hectares was considered to be big enough to have a septic disposal system and your own well."

Mr Ayers said provision for rural residential land needed to be close to town to reduce the cost of providing essential services, but far enough away to allow for urban expansion.

"It's important to remember that the DDS is a non-statutory document and a lot more work will need to be done for the District Plan review, which is under way.

"As part of the District Plan review we will have to address what is 'rural character' and the cost of servicing these small blocks."

In completing the District Plan review, the council would need to work with its urban development strategy partners, Christchurch and Selwyn, and to take account of the national policy statement on urban development capacity, where Greater Christchurch has been designated "a growth area".

david.hill@alliedpress.co.nz
Central Rural Life